BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — K9 units from across the state of Florida recently gathered at Brooksville’s Chinsegut Hill for a unique competition: the 2025 Statewide K9 Tracking and Training Event.
The Florida Department of Corrections hosted the event on Oct. 13 to showcase the abilities of the top-qualifying K9 tracking teams from across the state.
Public funding is helping these units make a difference.
“It was a really good competition,” said Cross City Correctional Institution K9 Sgt. Mitch Osteen. “People here we were competing against are some of the best in the state — it is the best in the state.”
Gathered Chinsegut Hill were Florida’s top K9 units. Coming out on top this year was Osteen and Cross City Correctional Institution.
“These competition tracks, they lay them a mile and a half through the woods with two 90s,” said Osteen. “They drop four flags and we wait two hours to start them and run them. This year we ran a 16:30 and a 21:00 on both of our tracks.”
Osteen has been on Cross City’s K9 team for 18 years — serving as K9 sergeant for the last 15 years and overseeing the growth and development of K9s throughout the years.
“We got K9 Thunder over here on this side,” Osteen said, pointing to one of his team’s dogs. “He’s 7 years old. We’ve got K9 Cy right here — he’s won three competitions in a row. He’s 3 years old. So we got some really good dogs. We train them from puppies right on up to dogs.”
It’s a job made possible thanks to both state and public funding.
“We do get a lot of donations from Corrections Foundation and other things,” said Danny Rummel, special teams coordinator for the Florida Department of Corrections. “There is a lot of equipment — GPS tracking collars and just all the equipment they use to keep them safe in the woods and to help them track down children, women, elderly or suspects if necessary.”
While the actual tracking during the event may only take minutes, Osteen said it takes countless hours of patience to prepare.
“We train on eight hours a day,” says Osteen. “I mean, I love my job. I love working with the dogs out in the woods, training. I just love it.”
He said the training is important, because when a situation arises, whether it be tracking escaped inmates or lost individuals, the K9 crew is ready to handle the job.
“It’s the best job in the world,” Osteen said. “I love my job with the K9. I started out inside for seven years and promoted up out to K9 sergeant, and it’s just amazing. Best job there is.”
Calvin Lewis
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